Welcome to the jungle, it gets worse here every day
You learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play
If you got hunger for what you see, you'll take it eventually
You can have everything you want but you better not take it from me

In the jungle, welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n knees, knees
Uh ah, I'm gonna watch you bleed

You know where you are?
You're in the jungle baby
You're gonna die
In the jungle, welcome to the jungle

Welcome to the Jungle, by Guns N' Roses, from the album Appetite for Destruction, released in 1987

I wish I could say that the incident had only happened once since. I really wish I could. But no, ever since that night, Bella had been caught up in nightmares more often then I had slept. Roughly five out of seven days a week, with multiple nightmares a night, that meant that not only was Bella not getting any good sleep, but I wasn't getting any.

You might ask, well, what happened to the other two nights where she wasn't having a nightmare. Well, I had to patrol the other two nights. So I was dead on my feet, not that Bella needed to know that. So far, we had managed to conceal our now deceased (again) visitor's presence from Bella, and while we hadn't found out anything about the red-headed Leech, we were training harder then we had ever done before, driven by the point of protecting our Imprints and family.

It was difficult keeping it from her, and there were a few close calls, I was confident that she was in the dark.

"Jake!"

I was called from downstairs, a sort of whisper-shout that I could hear, but wasn't loud enough to disturb the lightly sleeping Bella. Watching her briefly, I turned and walked down the stairs, afraid to even walk in-case I woke her. She needed as much sleep as she could get. With her appetite having increased minutely, her superficial wounds had healed, with her more serious ones taking more time to heal. More time then they were taking already.

Poking my head through the door, I saw Charlie, Dad, and Harry sitting round in the living room area, which wasn't all that unusual. They did have things to do outside of pack business. Still, I came in, where he passed me a newspaper. Nothing abnormal there. A niggling thought of mine was panicky for a brief second, thinking that we'd somehow slipped up, been discovered, or there was a photo of one of us or something, but to be minutely, minutely relieved at what I saw.

Because while it was bad, it wasn't as bad. We could handle what he was bringing our attention to. Scanning the headline, it read out: 'Span of Missing People in Seattle and Surrounding Areas Increases as Police Left Baffled.' Reading further down, with the three geezers watching me and my reaction, I couldn't help but pick out a few key facts which rang alarm bells like the sound of war in my head.

'The missing people- assumed kidnapped by local law enforcement- seem to range from the ages of sixteen to thirty. After being kidnapped there was no leads relating to the whereabouts of them, and according to Seattle Police, there is a believed connection with the increased murder rates of a murderer nicknamed 'The Vampire', in which the bodies are left drained of all blood..'

The Police, it sounded like, were more accurate then they believed with their nickname. Because while it could just be a murderer who had habits like a Leech, the missing people and the left behind, blood drained bodies, lead to one thing in my mind. One thing for definite. And judging by the looks on their faces, I would wager we had the same idea in mind. And if it was what I thought it was.. well, we were going to need an army.

"We need to prepare more. We have reason to believe that the Leech Victoria, has been recruiting an army in Seattle. With our current pack, even including Bella, who is unlikely to be in a good fighting condition, we are severely outnumbered."

At the minute, I was acting Alpha, because we hadn't arranged the formal transferral of power that would go with me taking my role. We were gathered in a local clearing, with the exception of Bella, as we paced around, trying to formulate a game plan. I kept up my confident facade, as the majority of the pack had bristled fur and bared teeth.

"What do you propose we do?"

That came from Sam, who had taken the loss of Alpha- well, had taken being overruled- surprisingly well, asked, being largely strategical in his way of thinking. That was what we were going to need in order to win this upcoming war.. but I was prepared to acknowledge that we might have casualties, no matter how much I wanted to deny it.

"We need to contact the other shifters."

Nobody argued my point, and I hoped it wasn't due to me acting like an Alpha. I didn't want to be treated any differently just because I had that power now. Instinctively, I knew this was our best course of action, presumably due to that finicky power that I hadn't even known I had until a few days ago.

"I know someone in the Cougar pack."

Embry offered up, much to all of our surprise. I turned to look at him in surprise, where he shyly shrugged as a way of explanation. Flicking his ears, and looking somewhat uncomfortable at all of the attention he was receiving, he explained how he knew someone in that pack, considering we had never really associated with them.

"Y'know what my Ma's like. Travelling. I went with her- remember when I had to take a break because she dragged me across the country when she went to see her cousin?"

I did remember that, yes. Because while we had been okay with it- what could you do if your Mom was dragging you around, and she didn't know of your importance in the pack- Embry had been annoyed at his Mom for days. It was one of the few times I had ever seen him angry, because he was usually such a calm person, not easily agitated.

"I met her cousin's husband's kid up there who was one of the shifters. I'll give him a call, see what he can do. What should I tell them?"

"Tell them everything. And I mean, everything. We can't get them to trust us if we lie."

Embry nodded, before turning and disappearing, presumably to give them a phone call. Even if they allied with us, we were going to need a lot more people, especially if you considered the fact that over two hundred and thirty people, collectively, had gone missing in Seattle and the surrounding areas. Total.

And we had no idea how many of those people were Leeches, and how many had just been runaways. And, we didn't know if she'd taken anyone else from outside that area. There were far too many unknown variables, and I didn't like it.

"Does anyone else know any other packs?"

"I know a few. Lions. Some more wolves. Elephants, believe me or not. I travelled a lot, so I know a lot of packs. A lot of them live remotely, so I will need to go find them myself."

I decided not to be surprised over the fact that Shadow knew so many packs. I doubly decided not to be surprised over the fact there were elephant shifters- how on earth did that work- and just decided to accept it. I knew one thing for certain, and that was that Shadow was not a liar. Evasive, yes, but not outright a liar. And we needed as much help as we could get if her army was as big as we speculated.

"I'd appreciate that."

Before I could ask if he needed money to fund for a plane trip- which, unless he could teleport he would likely need- Shadow disappeared into the ground in that way that he did. I could still feel his connection in the pack mind, but it was muted and quiet. Every month, each member tended to put some money into our collective fund, so that we always had money to pay for things like trips or food.

We didn't enforce it, mostly because some of us were too young to actually have jobs, but everybody, even Seth, Colin, and Brady did. Shrugging his disappearance off, I looked over my pack, silently reaching out for where Bella's mind would be, but finding a brick wall.

That meant that she was either still asleep, or lying on her bed, unable to wrap her shield around us. I'd have to tell her eventually… there was no feasible way I could hide the arrival of all of the packs, assuming they came to our aid.

"I know the Alpha of the Alaskan pack. Went up there when I first phased, came across the Alpha while panicking. He showed me the ropes."

"If everyone gets into contact with the packs they know, while the others train. We'll prepare the transferral of power for tomorrow.. whilst I explain to my Imprint why we've got a lot of Pack's incoming and why I kept the intruder from her."

The whole Pack flinched as I said that, and Sam looked at me with pity. You know it wasn't going to go well, I just hoped that Bella would maul me.. I was really hoping that she'd understand I did it for her benefit, and not because I was being deceitful.

"Good luck Jake."

"Yeah... I'm going to need a lot of it. And it's something I don't have in excess."

It took me three days to muster up the courage to bring the topic up. I couldn't stretch the time out too far, but I waited for more of an improvement on Bella's part before I brought it up. But bring it up I did. I had just gotten back to my house after a day of training, when I saw that Bella was sitting, downstairs for once. She looked to be having a one sided conversation with Harry, who was talking animatedly about Quiluette legends.

They were always fun to listen to, even some of the more outlandish ones that seemed like something out of someone's drug addled story. But it was our history, and now Bella's. With her being in a good mood, I was extremely hesitant to interrupt it. I stalle- I mean, I went to get a drink, as I waited for Harry to finish his latest regaling tale. From what I could hear, it was one of the more outlandish ones.

I swear I heard Medieval England in there somewhere, along with King something or other. How England came into it, I will never know. It certainly wasn't one of the stories I recognised. Taking a drink of water, I settled down into the sofa, as Bella subconsciously moved so that she was next to me, still enraptured in what Harry was saying. We stayed like that for five minutes, before Harry lowered his voice, finishing the story with little fanfare.

"And that's how we had an ancestral lineage in England."

Well that was interesting. Bella nodded, moving from her position next to me to headbutt Harry's leg. She'd been spending a lot of time with Harry as of late, and I think it had something to do with how my Dad was always out doing Chief stuff, and Charlie was out working as Chief.

Ironic how me and Bella were imprints, and our father's both had the title of Chief. It was something I'd never really noticed before. Harry stood up, ruffling Bella's head as he made his way to the door, waving goodbye with an absent wave of the hand.

"I'll see you later Bella."

She barked, and we could both hear the front door shut, a noise that wasn't particularly loud. Placing my drink down on the table, I scratched Bella's muzzle as she looked at me, very amused. She wouldn't be amused for long.

Why the long face?

I rubbed my eyes before forcing them violently awake again. I stretched my fingers out, cracking my knuckles and forcing myself to watch my words. If I didn't tell this the right way.. I'd either have a pissed off Bella, a Bella who decided to take on the world, or a Bella who would be easy pickings for any lingering Leeches. The last thing Bella's health and recovery needed was to be kidnapped again..

I had no doubt in her normal abilities.. that is, when she was healthy- but realistically, she had no chance. There was still a distinct gait when she walked, her tail was low and crooked when wagged, and her formerly perfect coat was littered by scars. That made no difference to me, but I knew Bella was a little self-conscious about it.

She was still dangerously underweight- not as bad as she had been, but still not healthy- and she couldn't walk for long periods of time, nor run. Jumping was out of the question, because it put pressure on her spine and paws, but at least she wasn't swaddled in bandages any more. If that could be labelled as an improvement.

"There's something I need to tell you.."

She turned her head in curiosity, watching me with her chocolate eyes. Ears perking, she watched me curiously, but with an undercurrent of anxiety. I didn't blame her for that anxiety.. I just hoped she'd.. not run off or try to fight someone. Whether that happened or not though.. well, that was up to Bella.

Shadow's POV

Moon-turn had broken. The long days of travelling taking their toll on me. Snow hung limply to my long haired fur, but the fur did its job and kept me warm. Grass-Grazers had fallen to my claws, the contents of their meat fuelling my strength to carry on. It had been a long time since I had seen them, something that I hadn't attempted to rectify, much to my chagrin.

It was nice to have some time away from Curved and Strawberry's pack. My time with the pack had not been as worrying as I had originally anticipated, and I found myself enjoying the wolves' company, even if they were human borns. My secret- oh so close to being uncovered- was still firmly secure in my maw, but it would revealed soon.

I know some of the pack still think I am a pup- and treat me as such- and that amuses me gratefully, as I was in reality, older then they could anticipate. Even I forgot how long it had been.. At first I had been worried when I murmured the words of my Mama to Strawberry, waiting with bated breath for that flicker of recognition, or the questions that would no doubt follow. But there were none, leaving me to reveal my secret for when I was ready.

They were my last stop for this trip before I returned to Curved's pack, bringing the aid I knew we would need for the upcoming war. Bella had many traits that had been in my Mama, and it brought some nostalgia to see them coming to life. I finally approached the entrance to the burrow that I knew so well, anticipating to be greeted. I was not surprised when I was suddenly greeted by a pyre of red-hot, circling violently round me, and thawing the snow that surrounded me.

Balls of sunlight in its own intensity dangled around me, reminding me of the crests in the sky that housed the fallen wolves. The air around me scratched and snapped at me, with the snow reforming suddenly around my paws, decorating with a dusting of powder. Sparks of the stinging-yellow danced around me, as a wolf-shaped figure moved through the fire, fur hardened and rock-like with an impenetrable shine to it.

My own powers reached out to greet him, and with them coming into contact, the red-hot and everything else disappeared abruptly, leaving me wide open for a pounce attack. If you have never had a dozen fully grown wolves clamber over you, believe you me that it can be quite uncomfortable. Still, I licked all of them that I could get to as they nuzzled me, clinging to me happily.

There was one thing in common that came out here, and that was what they were chorusing. That, and their relation to me, and part of my secret.

"Papa!"

Victoria's POV

This was a job she wanted to do herself, as part of her revenge plan. She took every precaution necessary, choosing a rainy day so her scent was washed away, remaining downwind, and staying as far away from the Mutt's territory as humanly possible. Heh. Humanly.

Her scout had told her that they were mostly in the forest during the day hours, but that there were several wolves patrolling at any one time. The Bitch had been spending a lot of time with her father as of late- presumably due to the severe injuries that the fool Cullen had inflicted. He'd been much more.. bloodthirsty then she had anticipated, and she would have been a fool not to use that to her advantage.

But now he was a loose end.. one she would wrap up at some point. Sticking to the shadows as she witnessed the man she was after leave the male Mutt's house, his stink surrounding the property and acting as a deterrent. Watching him move forwards, a distance away from the house he had just exited, she crouched down, and ran to the man, grabbing his body with ease.

Her hand curled around his mouth to prevent him from screaming, as she retreated back to a safe distance, his struggles being harmless against her granite skin. Drawing her fangs, she smiled, baring them and pressing them to his neck tauntingly, not quite breaking the skin.

"You."

He practically growled, still trying to break free. There was no fear coming from the man, but there was no resignation either. He tilted his chin up as she looked at him with anger. How dare he not react to her. She snarled quietly, hoping to scare him, but there was nothing. Just anger.

"You may do to me what you like, but the wolves will kill you for what you did to Bella."

"I look forward to it."

There was the sounds of barking from nearby, and Victoria knew that they had gotten wind of her scent somehow. Her plan would not proceed if she was killed at the hands of those Mutts. Muttering about the waste of good blood, she twisted his neck to the side, the crack cutting through the silence. Without looking back, she fled, heading back to her awaiting army and preparing to execute the next phase of the plan while the Mutts were too busy mourning. Whoever said vengeance wasn't sweet?

Notes for Shadow's Terminology

Moon-turn – Night

Grass-Grazers – Deer

Curved & Strawberry – Jacob & Bella

red-hot – Fire

Crests in the sky – Stars

Stinging-Yellow – Electricity

Author's Note

Hello everyone! How are you all?

I've been busy this week, preparing for school (which starts again on Monday :o), helping my mum redecorate (I hate painting) and meeting some of my old friends who I haven't talked to in a while.

I'm going out to see Joker tomorrow- my first ever time seeing a DC movie in a cinema- with my friend, and I'm going for a walk with my other friend either the Saturday or Sunday.

Anyway, time for the question of the week. If you could change something in today's society, what would you change?

I'd change the stigma surrounding boys and girls. A girl- to most people- cannot be friends with a boy without being in a relationship. I don't know if that's just where I live, or what, but it's a stigma that makes my life incredibly awkward.

Anyway, I've got to go, but before I do: Thanks for every review, follow, favourite, or any other words of encouragement. I really, really appreciate it!

See you all next time!

~Cait

Edit Note: 27/10/19 - Changed 'Siberian' Pack to 'Alaskan'. I have no clue why I said Siberian when I meant to say Alaskan. Doesn't make any logical sense for Sam to go to Siberia.